Extensible carriage.



N0. 65l,l9l. Patented June 5, I900. J. H. KOONS.

EXTENSIBLE CARRIAGE.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1899.)

3 Sheats$heat l.

(No Model.)

witmaoaw rucmnms PETERS co, PMOYO-LITPIOY wnnmcmm, n. 4:v

No. 65l,|9|. Patented lune 5, I900.

J..H. K'OUNS. v

EXIENSIBLE CARRIAGE.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheef 2;

12 @ln 0 w f 1 ffiffifi W 1 o FfF m i 1% i I I I 1 l I l i 2; l l

@Wue/wboz THE NORRIS PETERS o0. Pno'roumo" WAEHINGYON, u, C,

No. 65l,|9|. Patented June 5, I900.

J. H. KOONS. EXTENSIBLE CARRIAGE.

' (Application flied Dec. 6, 1899.) (No Model.)

. 3Sheets-Sheet 3.

v, i 53 11a 1 J THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PNOTOUTnCL. wxsnmarox. n c

N NE 5|:-

STATES scion.

PATENT EXTENSIBLE CARRIAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 651,191, dated June 5,1900. Application filed December 6, 1899. Serial No. 739,897- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY KOONS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hagerstown, in the county of Washington and State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExtensib'le Oarriages; and Ido declare the followingto be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to extensible carriages, and has for its objecttheproduction of a vehicle of which both the body and the running-gear maybe extended sufiiiciently to permit the use of two seats, one in rear ofthe other, or contracted into a single-seat conveyance and preserving ineach condition proper proportions and attractive appearance.

I accomplish the above object by a special construction and arrangement,each element being described in detail and its individual office,together with the mode of operation of the Whole, fully explainedherein-below.

Like numerals designate like parts throughout the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 represents a side view of my invention extended and adapted fortwo seats. The broken lines in this figure indicate the positions of thesingle seat, dashboard, front wheels, and attachments when the carriageis contracted, the rear portion and top remaining at rest during theoperation. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the carriage-bod y floor,showing in full and broken lines the two. positions of the sliding orfront bottom. Fig. 3 is a plan view from below of the frame of thevehicle, the wheels being omitted. Fig. 4 is a top plan of the frontseat, with back and sides or arms folded. Fig. 5 is a detail end view ofone of the sides, the broken lines indicating its folded position. Fig.6 is a bottom plan of the front seat, showing the lever-operated boltsby means of which it is secured in its normal place, the ends of thebolts entering suitable recesses (not shown) provided for the purpose inthe sides of the body. Fig. 7 is a section 01": the floor, taken in avertical plane marked by broken line a a. (See Fig. 2.)

Considering Fig. 1, numerals 1 and 2 mark the far front and rear wheels,3 the top of the carriage, and 4 and 5 the customary upright rods,supporting the top. Number 6 designates the rear and, for descriptivepurposes, the stationary portion of the body. Resting upon this portionis the hind seat 7. It is not necessarily a folding seat, but is movable011 anarm 8, having one end pivoted to a stud 9, fixed to the under sideof the seat, and the other end pivoted to a similar stud 10, secured toa bracket 11, (shown in section,) fastened to the side of the body. Bymeans of the pivoted arm the hind seat may be jumped forward andbackward, as further explained hereinafter. or movable part of the body,and interiorly, upon opposite sides of this part, are fixedtrunnion-blocks 13, shown in Fig. 1 through a break in the side, andanother, precisely similar, directly opposite, but not shown. In theseblocks rest trunnions 14 and 15, (see Fig. 6,) and it will be noted thatthe front seat 16, supported by the trunnions, is reduced in width inorder that it may turn upon them between the sides of part 12 of thebody and that seat 16 would so turn were it not locked by the slidingbolts 17 and 18, guided by the straps 19 and 20 and pivoted to thehand-lever 21, which possesses a fulcrum 22. It has not been thoughtneed ful to multiply the drawings to show the bolt-holes in the sides,as the construction is obvious. In Fig. 1 may be seen the back-rest ofseat 16. It is marked 23 and furnished with a hinge 24, upon which itmaybe folded inwardly. (See Fig. 4.) The sides or arms of this seat aredesignated by the numbers 25 and 26. These two arms corre spondstructurally. Details of arm 26 appear in Fig. 5. The arm, ordinarily acushion, as delineated, has side irons attached at right angles, (seeFigs. 5 and 6, numbers 27 and 28,) arm 25 being similarly provided withside irons, (marked 29 and 30.) These side irons are pivotally connectedwith the seat by clips 31, 32, 33, and 34 and screws 35, 36, 37, and 38,the latter passing through both clips and side irons, as drawn. In itsnormal erect position the arm 26 (see Fig. 6) falls over the trunnionsand sides of the body, giving the seat the appearance of resting on theside. (See Fig. 1.) When folded, however, (see Figs. 4 and Number 12marks the forward 5,) the trunnions project, and the bolts beingwithdrawn the seat might be inverted upon them, which is the desiredobject.

Considering Fig. 2, the plan View of the floor parts of the body, number39 marks the front or sliding bottom, and number 40 the rear or falsebottom beneath the hind seat. Near the sides of the rear body portion (3of the carriage the false bottom is furnished with end pieces ski and42, connected with it by hinges 43 and 4t for the former, and 45 and 46for the latter. Grasping the little knobs or finger-holds 47 and 48, theend pieces may be turned upwardly upon the hinges out of the way of thesliding bottom. An inspection of Fig. 7 will explain the position of thefalse bottom 40. It is shown to be raised above the front or main bottom39 and is supported upon timbers l9 and 50. The manner of supporting therear end of one of the timberssay stil -is shown at the left-hand lowercorner of the bodyin Fig. 1, the side being broken away in part. Theforward portions of timbers 4:9 and 50 have secured on theiruppersurfaccs curving guideplates 51, 52, 53, and 54, that rest on andengage rails and 56, attached to the outer timbers 57 and 58, runningparallel with the first-mentioned timbers. To the under surface oftimbers 57 and 58 the sliding bottom 3.) is screwed, as indicated. Thefront edges of the sides of rearportion G of the carriagebody are boundby inclined curved ribs 59 and 60. The upper ends of these ribs appearin Fig. 2, and the greater part of rib 5!) is shown in Fig. l. The tworibs are identical. 'lhe rearward edges of the sides of movable part 12of the body are likewise bound by inclined curved ribs, the tops ofwhich appear in Fig. 2, numbered 61 and 62. The ribs of the rear portionof the body extend below the level of floor 39-that is, below thecarriage-and willbe again referred to. The ribs of the front portion ofthe body extend only to floor 39. It is believed to be within the scopeof my invention to vary somewhat, if desired,the construction, includingthe ribs above described. From Fig. 7 it will also be seen that thefront floor may be shoved backward beneath the rear or false bottom.

Considering Figs. 1 and 3, numbers 63 and 64 mark the front and rearaxles. From a fifth-wheel device 65 of any chosen character braces (36and 67 diverge rearwardly, their extremities being attached to anangular.

plate 68, which is screwed to the lower sur face of floororfront bottom30. Connecting braces (36 and 67 at their rear ends to the front bottomis an important feature of my invention, as by the use of thisconstruction it is unnecessary to disconnect these parts when shiftingthe sections of the carriage. Numbers 69 and 70 mark the tubular sidebars of the frame. At the back each bar is extended and bends upwardly,makinga pivotal connection with the rear springs. The construction isthe same for both bars, al-

though only the extension 71 of bar 69 is illustrated. This extension isconnected by link 72 to rear springs 73, as shown; but this particularmechanism may be modified, if required. Through the back of the rearportion of the body a screw 7t is driven into the 'end of timber 4-D,and on the opposite side a second screw 75 holds timber 50. I may changethis special method of holding the rear ends of the timbers supportingthe false bottom. The construction just described is best shown inFig. 1. Supporting the earriage-top atthe rear is rod 4, held in bracket76, secured to the back, and at the front rod 5 supports the top and isitself held in a bracket 77, that encircles tubular side bar 69. It willbe understood that other and exactlysimilar uprights support the top onthe opposite side of the carriage. The distance between the rear uprightt and front upright 5 does ndt vary, and the carriage-top is notextended or contracted. Near the front the tubular side bar (it) passesthrough the ring of a bracket 78, and bar 70 through a like bracket 79,(see Figs. 1 and 3,) both brackets being secured upon the undersurfz'tceof front bottom 30. It may here be noted that on shifting the carriageto form a single-seat conveyance brackets 77 and 78 and brackets 70 and80, the latter being twin to bracket 77 and attached to tubular side bar70, come together and afford a practical measure and limit to thecontraetive movements of the body portions. In these two figures will beobserved the clamping-rings 81 and S2, encircling the tubular bars intheir numerical or der, and from these rings will be noticed the braces83 and S-t,joined to the rear axle. To the rear of the clamping'ringsthe tubular bars pass through the rings of brackets 85 and 86, which arefixed on the under surface of front bottom 3.), nearits rear end.Attention is here called to the fact that when the carriage is extendedbrackets 85 and S6 meet the back edges of the clamping-rings 81 and 82,and thus limitthe extension or separation of the body portions and otherseparable elements, as specified.

Further considering Figs. 1 and 3, the next elements to be described arethe two latches 87 and 88, which look the telescoping sections of thecarriage together in either of the two positions. Astatement of thedetails of latch 87 will answer for both. It is pivotally connected withthe forward end of tubular bar 09. It possesses a laterally-projectinglug S9 and a longitudinally-extended elastic tongue 90. In Fig. 3 theelastic tongue 91 of latch 88 is shown. To receive the lugs of thelatches, I provide four recessed plates numbered, respectively, 92, 93,ll-t, and 95. Plates 92 and 95 are secured to the under surface of frontbottom 30, and plates 9t and 95 are fixed to the under surface of theupwardly-cnrvin g footboard 96. To engage the Links 97 and 98 arepivotally secured to the under surface of front bottom 39 forward ofplates 92 and 93, and links 99 andlOO swing from the under surface offootboard 96. Considering the side view, Fig. 1, if elastic tongue besprung upwardly link 97 may be freed from engagement with its extremityand latch 87 will fall, there being nothing to hold the lug intherecessed block. Latch 88 being released in the same manner, it isbelieved to be clear from the foregoing that, assuming the rear portionof the vehicle to beheld stationary and the front seat folded andinverted orentirely removed by liftingitfrom the trunnions, the wholefront of the carriage may be telescoped into the rear and the hind seatjumped forward on arm 8 into the position vacated by the front seat. Itmaybe here stated that to make the construction as durable as possible Iusually provide two pivoted arms beneath the hind seat, one on eitherside of the carriage. The form and operation are the same in eachinstance. Again, referring to rib 59, that binds the forward edge ofrear body portion 6, it will be observed, Fig. 1, that the rib extendsdownwardly and is made fast with brace 83 to the clamping-ring 81. Thusit is that the front of rear portion 6 is adequately supported, it beingkept in mind that there is a twin rib 60 supporting the opposite side ofportion 6.

I am aware thatextensible wagons and carriages have been constructed,and I do .not claim that feature broadly.

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In an extensible carriage, the combination of a rear body portionhaving a movable seat, a front body portion having a removable seat andadapted to telescope with the rear body portion, the front wheels beingattached to and movable with the said front body portion, side bars, thesaid rear body portion secured upon the side bars and maintaining afixed position with relation to them, guiding-brackets attached to andsupporting said front body portion on the side bars, the said bracketssliding along the side bars, devices limiting the extension andcontraction of the carriage, and latching mechanism arranged to lock thebody portions together in either their extended or contracted position,substantially as described.

2. In an extensible carriage, the combination of extensiblerunning-gear, a telescopic body consisting of a rear portion having araised floor, a front portion provided with a bottom arranged to passbeneath the said raised bottom when the portions are telescoped, andtimbers having rear ends fixed to the rear body portion, said timberssupporting said raised bottom, devices constructed and arranged tosupport the forward ends of said timbers and to guide the telescopingbody portions when approaching or leaving each other, and latchingmechanism arranged to lock the body portions and running-gear togetherin either their extended or contracted position, substantially asdescribed.

3. In an extensible carriage, the combination of extensiblerunning-gear, a telescopic body consisting of separable front and rearportions, the rear portion having a raised floor, timbers 49 and 50supporting said raised bottom and having rear ends fixed to the rearbody portion, outer timbers 57 and 58, rails 55 and 56 attached to theouter timbers, guideplates secured on timbers 49 and 50 and constructedto engage and slide upon said rails, the front body portion having abottom socured on the under edges of said outer timbers and adapted topass beneath said raised bottom, the outer timbers being connected withthe sides of the said front body portion, and latching mechanismarranged to lock the body portions and running-gear together in eithertheir extended or contracted position, substantially as described.

4. In an extensible carriage, the combination of a telescopic bodyconsisting of front and rearseparable portions, tubular side barsconnected with the hind-wheel springs, the said rear body portion beingsupported in a fixed position 011 the side bars, the said front bodyportion having guiding ringed brackets supporting said front bodyportion on the side bars, front wheels having a forward connection withthe footboard of said front body portion and fifth-wheel mechanism,braces 66 and 67 diverging rearwardly from the fifth wheeland connectedat the rear with said front body portion, devices constructed andarranged to limit the extension and contraction of the carriage, andlatches adapted to lock the separable portions togetherin either theirextended. or contracted position, substantially as described.

5. In an extensible carriage, the combination of a telescopic bodyconsisting of front and rear separable portions, tubular side barsconnected with the hind-wheel springs, the said rear body portion beingsupported in a fixed position by the side bars, the said front bodyportion having two pairs of guiding ringed brackets supportingsaid frontbody portion on the side bars, the front wheels having a forwardconnection with the front body portion, fifth-wheel mechanism, braces 66and 67 diverging rearwardly from the fifthwheel and connected at therear with the front body portion, clampingrrings 81 and 82 and brackets77 and 80 secured on the side bars the rings in rear of the brackets,one pair of said guiding ringed brackets encircling the side bars inrear of said clamping-rings, the remaining pair of guiding ringedbrackets encircling the side bars forward of brackets 77 and 80, andlatches adapted to lock the separable portions of the carriage in eithertheir extended or contracted position, substantially as described.

6. In an extensible carriage, the combina-' tion of a telescopic bodyconsisting of front and rear separable portions, extensible run- IIOning-gear, side bars supporting the body portions, latches pivoted tothe forward ends of the side bars and provided with projecting lugs andelastic tongues, recessed plates and dependent links suitably locatedand attached to the said front body portion whereby the separableportions of the carriage may be locked in either their extended orcontracted position, substantially as described.

7. In an extensible carriage, the combination of a telescopic bodyconsisting of front and rear separable portions, a reversible andremovable front seat, a back seat connected with the rear body portionby pivoted arms, tubular side bars connected with the hindwheel springs,the said rear body portion being supported in a fixed position by theside bars, the said front body portion having two pairs of guidingringed brackets supporting said front body portion on the side bars, thefront wheels having a forward connection with the front body portion,fifth-wheel mechanism, braces 66 and 67 diverging rearwardly from thefifth-wheel and connected at the rear with the front body portion,clampingrings 81 and S2 and brackets 77 and 80 secured on the side barsthe rings in rear of the brackets, one pair of said guiding ringedbrackets encircling the side bars in rear of said clamping-rings, theremaining pair of guiding ringed brackets encircling the side barsforward of brackets 77 and 80, and latches adapted to lock the separableportions of the carriage in either their extended or contractedposition, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENRY KOONS.

Vitnesses:

HARRY E. BURTON, JOHN ANKENEY.

